As families find ways to support their loved ones—by moving in with them, coordinating care partners who may be family members, friends, or professionals, and using remote care technology—experts also recommend planning for an end game.
“Research has found that 8 out of 10 people would prefer to be at home at the end of life, if that’s possible,” said Jon Radulovic, vice president of communications at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. “Sometimes that isn’t a possibility but for many people it is, and hospice care works to make this happen.”
Coordinating care with a partner like Homewatch CareGivers can allow you to spend quality time with your loved one during their final days. It can also reduce the stress of this challenging period and also help take some tasks off of caregivers’ hands.
How to Plan for Dying at Home
Statistics show that most people have a strong preference to age in place, to remain in their familiar home as they age or as their disease progresses. For instance, a 2021 AARP study found that 77% of adults who are age 50 and older said that they want to continue living in their existing homes, and for many, this inevitably includes dying at home as well.
The choice to continue living at home with some degree of assistance as age and some chronic conditions make daily living challenging is something that many people discuss and plan for with their loved ones. All too often though it is more difficult to talk about and plan for death, and this can lead to discomfort for patients and caregivers.
Dying at Home with Hospice
Signing up for hospice can be scary or just unappealing when people are uncomfortable with death, yet this proactive move can possibly make a person’s desire to pass away at home happen with less stress for their loved ones.
“The majority of hospice care provided in the U.S. is in the home, whether it be the patient’s home, a family member’s home, or nursing home if that’s where the patient resides,” Mr. Radulovic explained. Hospice care is provided by an interdisciplinary team of professionals and trained volunteers that address not only medical needs (like pain management and symptom control) but also psycho-social and spiritual needs. No two people would have the exact same needs a care plan should be unique to each patient.
Professional Hospice Care Staff
What happens when a hospice patient dies at home varies depending on their particular needs and situation. But the advantages of hospice care mean that both the person and their family will get the care and support they need in this difficult time. The family can depend on a team of professionals, including:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Social workers
- Counselors
- Allied therapists
- Home health aides
- Spiritual care providers
- Staff that help with grief and bereavement
The family caregivers are also part of the plan of care so they would receive support and caregiving training from the hospice team. It’s important to remember that hospice is not necessarily in the home 24 hours a day but they are always available by phone 24/7.”
Since hospice is not typically round-the-clock care, it can be complemented with in-home end of life care services to give family members a break.
Qualifying for Hospice Care
A person has to qualify for hospice, and this is done when a physician certifies that if the individual’s medical condition follows the expected course, they will pass away within six months. Mr. Radulovic notes that this does not mean the patient is limited to six months of hospice care, just that they continue to meet the criteria.
Hospice will provide equipment, supplies and medications related to the terminal prognosis.
Planning Ahead Is Key
Mr. Radulovic encourages people to consider hospice sooner than they might think it is necessary. While dying at home without hospice is a reality for those who either aren’t approved for it, can’t afford it, or haven’t been able to plan in advance, it’s much better all around to have hospice care.
“Too many people wait too long; about a third of patients die with 7 days or less which makes it hard to take advantage of all the services hospice has to offer,” he said. “Hospice is ideally suited for the final months of life, not just the final days. So in thinking about how to die at home, it’s important to access hospice care before death is imminent. Another way to think about it is that hospice really focuses on helping a patient live as fully as possible for as long as they have left.”
There are many resources online and possibly in your community to tap into when considering hospice.
- The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization has the “Moments of Life: Made Possible by Hospice” website and search tool to find a local hospice.
- CaringInfo is another site that provides tips on advance care planning.
- The Conversation Project is another online resource that can help people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care.
It’s best to have the hospice conversation as soon as possible. “The best time to do this is well before you’re in a medical crisis,” Mr. Radulovic stated. “Take the time to figure out what is most important and talk with family, loved ones, and other healthcare providers.”
Find Compassionate End of Life Care Near Me
If you’re caring for a loved one nearing the end of their life, you don’t have to do it alone. The professional, compassionate caregivers at Homewatch CareGivers are standing by and ready to help whenever you need it. Whether your loved one needs 24-hour care, or you need a hand filling in the gaps with other hospice care providers, get in touch with us today. Call 888-404-5191 or contact us to schedule a free in-home consultation.
